DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation: New Home Bronze

/in , , , /by

New Home Bronze

DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation

EDUCATION = SUSTAINABILITY

This house is more than simply a place for our clients to call “home”– it is an educational tool.
During the design/construction phase, we first educated ourselves about new green products/technologies and then shared what we learned with clients, subcontractors, city officials, and the general public.

Through simple conversations, public demonstrations,literature distribution,open houses and speaking engagements (we were invited to speak at a U of MN event in September 2008 about the construction of energy efficient homes) we helped turn many of the people we work with into advocates for sustainability (see Artistic Visions cabinet maker letter in the presentation for an example). Will we continue building green? ABSOLUTELY.

By Gigi & Rocky DiGiacomo, DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation

DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation KitchenDiGiacomo Homes & Renovation Living Room

For more information on this project visit www.dghomesandrenovation.com.

MOH Design: Remodel Type I Silver

/in , , , , , /by

Remodel Silver I

MOH Design Kitchen

Designer Marlene Hernick and her husband decided that instead of selling this home in this slow housing market to update their home in a sustainable and energy efficient way. One of the projects was to remodel the kitchen without adding square footage.

This 80’s home had an outdated kitchen with not enough storage space. The soffit around the room with drop ceiling and cabinets above the peninsula caused the space to appear smaller.

The existing layout and work triangle in the kitchen was kept. The soffit and the cabinets above the peninsula were removed to open the space making it airy and bright.

Some green attributes:

  • Reusing elements that were in good condition. Portion of the bottom cabinets were refaced to avoid waste going to the land fill
  • Installing frameless, locally sourced cabinetry added storage space
  • Energy-Star appliances
  • Recycled local granite countertops and glass tiles for backsplash
  • Low/no VOC primers/paints,
  • Formaldehyde-free wood product,
  • LED recessed lighting,
  • New HVAC system,
  • Universal aspects were added

The goal for this project was to create a beautiful, functional kitchen with a contemporary flair while improving the energy efficiency of this home and have less environmental impact

By Marlene Hernick, MOH Design

MOH Design Kitchen BeforeBackyard Vegetable Garden

For more information on ths project visit www.mohdesignllc.com.

White Crane Construction: Remodel Type III Bronze

/in , , , /by

Remodel Bronze III

White Crane Construction
All photos courtesy of VIP 360

White Crane Cosntruction KitchenWhite Crane Construction Living Room

For more information on this project visit www.whitecraneconstruction.com.

Heritage Builders: Remodel Type IV Bronze

/in , , , /by

Remodel Type IV Bronze

Heritage Builders

This South Minneapolis homeowner came to Heritage Builders, Inc. with a vision to expand and remodel the house left to him by his parents, using sustainable and locally sourced materials, converting the household mechanicals to energy efficient systems, and conserving or recycling materials wherever possible.

Some of the key elements of this project that qualified it for green certification were:

  • Geothermal heating and cooling
  • Cement based siding and exterior trim
  • Energy Star rated appliances and lighting fixtures
  • Low flow plumbing fixtures
  • Advanced framing techniques that conserved on lumber usage
  • Fingerjoint wall studs and engineered joists and beams to maximize the use of forest products
  • High efficiency windows and exterior doors
  • Reclaimed ceramic tile
  • Advanced insulation techniques to increase R-values and eliminate air leakage
  • No recessed fixtures penetrating unconditioned attic space
  • 40 year shingles
  • Low VOC paints and finishes
  • Recycled materials and fixtures salvaged for the old house
  • A Waste Management Plan to deal with all refuse.
  • A rain barrel to collect water runoff from the roof, to be used to water the yard

By Mark Benzell, Heritage Builders

Heritage Builders - Before

For more information on this project visit www.heritagebldrs.com.

Live Green Live Smart – The Sustainable House: Remodel Type IV Gold

/in , , , , , /by
Remodel Gold IVThe Sustainable House

Live Green, Live Smart’s The Sustainable House TM is a participant in Minnesota GreenStar’s Remodeling pilot program and the LEED for Homes Pilot ProjectTM. Live Green, Live Smart has transformed an ordinary post-War rambler in a suburban neighborhood into a Century hour that will be energy efficient, environmentally healthy, respectful of the natural environment, and comfortable for family life as climate and energy resources alter in the coming decades.

Environmentally-Conscious Applications

The green building materials and techniques as applied to the House are less conspicuous than alternative energy sources, but no less important to our Platinum remodel.

  • Efficient insulation and an air transfer system ensure that none of the heat or cold generated goes to waste, and that the air inside the home stays clean and breathable.
  • Solatubes provide natural sunlight all day long, even in the basement, reducing electricity needs.
  • Every lightbulb in the house is an energy-efficient compact fluorescent or LED.
  • Low-voltage radiant in-floor heating is an efficient way to reduce furnace needs.
  • Greywater is collected from the showers for reuse in the double-flush toilets.
  • Windows are triple-glazed and argon-filled to reduce heat transfer.
  • Appliances are EnergyStar rated, and an induction stove is used for cooking.
  • All electrical energy purchased from the grid is the product of windfarming – no coal-fueled energy will be used in the House.

By Peter Lytle, Live Green Live Smart

The Sustainable House BeforeThe Sustainable House Dining ROom

For more information on this project visit http://livegreenlivesmart.org.

Quarve Contracting: Remodel Type I Bronze

/in , , , /by
Remodel Bronze IQuarve ContractingQuarve Contracting, Inc. has completed a Minnesota GreenStar Pilot remodeling project for the Gitzen home, a 1957 rambler in Roseville. Homeowners, Chuck and Kathy Gitzen worked with Quarve Contracting, Inc. by volunteering some sweat equity. They’ve installed their own rain garden, indoor and outdoor compost bins, rain barrels and reducing their energy costs by installing CFL lighting. Green Remodeling does not need to add extra costs to a remodeling project.  It can reduce homeowner’s energy costs well into the future. The Gitzen’s scope of work included; reinsulating the home, sealing bypasses, which resulted in a 44% tighter home. This came in as one of the tightest home tested for MN GreenStar. We removed a side door on the west side of home and installed a new window in the south side. The light switch in the room was switched so one switch could shut down all computer monitors and cpu units.  We also installed: windows, solar tubes, energy effeicent doors, Energy Star rated appliances and life-time warranty – Energy Star rated – United States Platinum Seamless Steel Siding with a natural drainage plan and ceramic based paint which is solar reflective.  Ventilation was also an issue, we brought the home up to manufacturer specifications as there was no soffit ventilation before.By Julie Quarve, Quarve Contracting

Quarve Contracting - Before
For more information on this project visit
 www.quarve.com.

Mike Otto Construction: Remodel Type IV Silver

/in , , , , , /by
Remodel Silver IVMike Otto ConstructionThe owners of this split-level home wanted an addition that was healthy and provided more space. The problems with this home were its uneven slope and its lack of natural lighting and good flow. To fix these concerns the yard was carved evenly to the ground before the addition started and the positioning of the porch was placed in the most direct sunlight to provide ample natural lighting. An addition was added to the back of the existing house to provide additional spaces: an office, dining room, family room and a four season sunroom. By adding skylights in the great-room it fixed the problem of lighting and made the space more open. From start to finish this project was designed, constructed, and finished in GREEN and followed the state green certification requirements which included: tests, energy calculations and inspections. The homeowners enjoy the extra space with lower energy bills.The homeowner commented on our project that “We chose Mike Otto as a builder based on four primary things:  quality, reliability, cost, and his support of doing a green project. Mike was supportive of doing a green remodel from the beginning; he actually got us involved in GreenStar.  He helped tremendously as we made choices based on the GreenStar checklist, and gave us a lot of guidance on some of the things you don’t see when you look at the new space — things like framing techniques, insulation and heating and cooling.  The final product is beautiful, well-executed and built to last.”By Mike Otto, Mike Otto Construction

Mike Otto ConstructtionMike Otto Construction For more information on this project visit www.moconstruction.com.